Classic Poem

Sir, to be noble, when 'twas voted down,
To dare be good, though a whole age should frown;
To live within, and from that even state
See all the under=world stoop to its fate;
To give the law of honour, and dispence
All that is handsome, great and worthy thence;
Are things at once your practice and your end,
And which I dare admire, but not commend
But since t'obleige the world you so delight,
You must descend within our reach and sight,
(For so divinity must take disguise,
Least mortalls perish with the bright surprize)
And thus your muse, which can enough reward
All actions study'd to be brave and hard,
And honours gives, than kings more permanent,
Above the reach of Acts of Parliament,
May suffer an acknowledgment from me,
For having thence received eternity
My thoughts with such advantage you express,
I hardly know them in this charming dress;
And had I more unkindness from my friend
Then my demerits e're could apprehend,
Were the fleet courted with this gale of wind,
I might be sure a rich return to find.
So when the Shepheard on his nimph complain'd,
Apollo in his shape his Mistress gain'd:
She might have scorn'd the swain, and found excuse,
But could not his great Orator refuse
But for Rosania's intrest, I should feare,
'Twere harder to obtain your pardon here;
But your first goodness will, I know, allow
That what was bounty then, is mercy now.
Forgiveness is the noblest charity,
And nothing can worthy your favour be;
For you (god=like) are so much your own fate,
That what you will accept, you must create.